Tilting switch alarm or signal



June 22, 1943. M. SORENSEN 2,322,549

TILTING SWITCH ALARM OR SIGNAL Filed May 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet -l INVENTOR. Mmzw Arrow June 2 2, 1943. SORENSE'N 2,322,549

TILTING SWITCH ALARM OR SIGNAL Filed May 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [V5 Same/165 ATTORNEY,

Patented June 22, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

' a tilting switch adapted to close when a part on the alarm melts by heat.

Still a further object .of this invention is to provide a lamp mounted for pivotal movement and adapted to automatically become illuminated when the alarm is tilted, the lamp being rotatable about its axis to such positions that it will not illuminate even when tilted.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable device of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, positive in action, easy to adjust, and yet practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a lamp controlled by a tilting switch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a switch embodying the invention controlled by wind or tilting;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal elevational view of a tilting switch embodying the invention, and illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, and illustrating a further modified construction;

- erwise attached to the cap 21.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is an axial cross-sectional view of a fire alarm tilting switch embodying the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, l0 designates a device embodying the invention, and comprising a member I I having a top wall l2 and a cylindrical wall l3. The cylindrical wall I3 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed aligned hubs 11, in which are journalled a pair of fixed aligned axles [8. Member I I is thus tiltable about the fixed axles l8.

The top wall l2 of member II is formed with a central opening 20. Rotatably mounted within the opening 20 is a tubular member 2| made of insulating material and held against sliding movement on said top wall by a pair of split rings 22 disposed above and below the top wall and received in annular grooves 23 in said tubular member. In the bottom of the tubular member 2| is a screw shell 24 adapted to receive the bas 25 of the lamp 26, screwed therein.

Fixed to the top of the tubular member 2| is a cap 21 of insulating material formed with a central opening 28, and an opening 29 offset from the center of said cap. Within the tubular member 2| is an inner tubular member 30 made of insulating material and formed with an opening 32 adjacent its upper end, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Within the tubular member 30 is a longitudinally extending transversely curved bar 33 formed with a bent back finger 35 at its upper end passing through the opening 32. At the lower end of the bar 33 is a spring finger 36 adapted to be engaged by the central contact 31 of the lamp base 25.

Mounted on the cap 21 are a pair of terminals 40 and 4| to which there are attached wires 42 and 43 connected to any source of electric power supply. The terminals 40 and 4| may be held to the cap by an insulating plate 44 screwed or oth- Connected to the terminal M is a metal bar 46 having a downwardly extending portion 41 passing through the opening 28 in the cap 21, and formed with an eye or opening 48, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on portion 41 of member is a pendulum 58 having a hook 51 passing through the eye or opening 58. At the. lower end of the pendulum is a metal ball 5 1. Attached to the other terminal 48, is a metal strip 56 passing through the opening 29 and between the inner insulating tube 30 and the outer tube 2| and engaging at its lower end, the screw shell 24. Fixed to the cap 21 are a pair of outwardly extending handles 21a.

The operation of the device EU will now be described:

When said device is in vertical position, the lamp will not be illuminated. When member II is tilted, the pendulum will swing. If the tube 2| is rotated by means of the handles 21a to such a position that when member I I is tilted, the ball 54 will strike bar 33, the lamp will be illuminated. The circuit for the lamp passes through Wire 42, conductor 56, screw shell 24, the filament for the lamp, the central socket 31, the spring finger 36, bar 33, pendulum 50, conductor 20 and terminal 4|.

It will now be understood that upon rotating the tube 2I by means of the handles 21a. the bar 33 may be brought to such position that when member II is tilted, the alarm will not be illuminated.

The lamp 26 may be replaced by any other electric alarm, device or signal if desired.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, there is shown a device I0a comprising a tubular insulating member rotatably and non-slidably mounted in a member 6| which in turn may be mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, in the same manner as the member II of Fig. 1. The tubular member 60 may be held from sliding movement in member BI by split rings 63 received in grooves 64 disposed above and below member SI. Within tubular member El is an inner tubular member 65 made of insulating material.

Mounted on the upper end of the tubular member 60 is a cap 65 made of insulating material and formed with handles 81. On cap 66 is a central terminal 68 fixed thereto in any suitable manner, and three equiangularly spaced terminals 69, I0 and II arranged around the central terminal 68. Fixed to terminal 68 is a wire 58a, and fixed to the terminals 69, I0 and II are wires 69a. 10a and Ila, respectively.

Fixed to the inner tubular member '35 are three equiangularly spaced. longitudinal. transversely curved conducting strips 69b, 10b and Nb, passing through openings in the cap 66 and connected to the terminals 69, I0 and II respectively. The lower ends of the strips 69b. 10b and Nb may be bent back a ainst the lower edge of tube 65.

The central terminal 68 has an eyelet I4 extending downwardly below the cap 66. Attached thereto, is the upper end of a pendulum "I5. The pendulum I5 is provided with a ball I6 dis osed within the tube 60. Screwed to the ball I0 is the upper end of a rod 11, to the lower end of which is attached a flat plate o vane 18.

It will now be understood that wind blowing on the plate I8 will swing the pendulum to cause the ball 16 to move toward the tube 65. If the ball I6 strikes one of the conducting strips 69?), 101) or Ilb, the terminal to which said switch is connected will be electrically connected to the central terminal or common terminal. 08. The wire 68a is connected in separate circuits with the wires 69a. 10a and Na. In each of the circuits is an alarm or signal which will be selectively actuated when the circuit is closed by con tact of the pendulum with the respective conducting strips. If member BI is tilted. the pendulum will also swing, and if it contacts one of the conducting strips, the circuit for said strip will be closed.

(ill

The tube 60 may be rotated by means of the handle 61 to adjust the angular positions of the conducting strips 69b, 10b or 'Hb. If the ball 16 strikes the tube 65, without contacting the conducting strips, no circuit will be closed and no signal or alarm will be actuated.

If desired, the rod Il may be unscrewed from the ball I6 so that the switch will operate merely as a tilting switch and not as a wind controlled switch.

In Figs. 6, 8 and 9 there is disclosed a tilting switch I 0b, embodying the invention and illustrating a modification thereof. The same com prises a tubular member 80 made of insulating material. Screwed to the upper and lower ends of said tubular member are insulating caps 8| and 02. Attached to said caps BI and 82 are spring clips 83 and 84, respectively. Attached to said spring clips 83 and 84 are wires 83a and 84a, respectively, which may be connected in circuit with any suitable alarm or signal device.

Integrally formed with the spring clip 03. is an eyelet B'I projecting into the tube 80. Pivoted on eyelet 8'! is a pendulum 88 provided with a ball 89 at its lower end. Within the upper portion of the tube 80 is an inner tubular member 90. Between the tube 90 and the cap 82, and within the tube 80, is a coil 9| of conducting material. The spring clip 84 is attached to the lower end of the spring 9| by means of arms 93 attached to said spring clip and engaging the lowermost convolution of said coil.

When the pendulum is in vertical position, the wires 83a and 84a are not electrically connected. However, should the switch be tilted, the ball 89 will contact coil BI to interconnect the wires 83a and 84a electrically.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a tilting switch I0c embodying the invention, and comprising an insulating tube I00 open at its lower end. Fixed to the lower end of the tube I00 is a cap IOI. Mounted on said cap are a pair of spring clips I02 and I03. Connected to said spring clips are wires I02a and I03a which may be connected in circuit with any suitable electrical signal or alarm. Within the upper portion of tube I00 is an inner insulating tube I06.

Integrally formed with the spring clip I03 is an eyelet I01 projecting within the tube I06. Pivoted on eyelet I0! is a pendulum I 08 provided with a ball I09 at its lower end. Screwed to the ball I09 is a rod IIO aligned with the pendulum and extending through the open lower end of the tube. At the lower end of rod H0 is a vane III. Within the tube I00 is a metal coil II2 connected at its lower end with the spring clip I02 by means of an extension H3 at the upper end of the spring passing between the tubes I05 and I00.

It will now be understood that when the wind blows the vane III to tilt the pendulum, the ball I09 will contact the spring I I2 to interconnect the wires I02a and I03a electrically. If desired, the rod IIO may be unscrewed so that the device I0c will operate merely as a tilting switch.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a heat responsive switch I0d embodying the invention which may serve as a fire alarm. The same comprises a horizontal insulating tube I20, one end of which is closed by a disc I2I of wax or metal of low melting point. Screwed to the other end of tube I20 is a cap I22. Fixed to the cap I22 is a spring clip I23, to which is connected a wire I23a. On said cap is a second spring clip I24, to which is connected a W re I24a.

The spring clip I23 is provided with an integral eyelet I26 projecting into the tube I20. Interconnecting the eyelet I26 with the center of the disc I2I is an axial rod I28. On rod I28 is a metal ball I29. Within the opposite ends of the tube I20 are inner insulating sleeves I29 and I30. Within the tube I20 and between the sleeves I29 and I30 is a coil I32 of conducting material. One end of the coil is connected by means of an extension I34 to the spring clip I24.

The operation of the fire alarm device I03 will now be explained.

Normally the ball I29 is spaced from the coil I32 and the wires I23a and I24 and are not electrically connected. Should the disc IZI melt however, the ball I29 will strike the coil I32 and interconnect the wires I23a and I24a electrically. Said wires may be connected to any suitable alarm or signal circuit.

The device I0d may be placed on a brakedrum of an automobile or bus and when the brake becomes too hot, a signal will be sounded to indicate to the driver that the brakes are overheated. The device I0 may be used in any other suitable manner, if desired.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A switch of the character described comprising a member having an opening, an insulating tube mounted within said Opening for free rotation about the axis of said tube, a pair of terminals thereon, a pendulum connected to one of the terminals and suspended within said tube, a

conductor within the tube and adapted to be engaged by the pendulum when the switch is tilted, said conductor being connected to the other ter minal, and means for mounting said member for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tube.

2. A switch of the character described comprising an insulating tube, a pair of terminals thereon, a pendulum connected to one of the terminals and suspended within said tube, a conductor within the tube and adapted to be engaged by the pendulum when the switch is tilted, said conductor being connected to the other terminal, a member rotatably receiving said tube, means for mounting said member for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tube, a handle on said tube, and a member attached to said pendulum and provided with a vane disposed outside of said tube.

3. A switch of the character described comprising an insulating tube, a pair of terminals thereon, a pendulum connected to one of the terminals and suspended within said tube, a conductor within the tube and adapted to be engaged by the pendulum when the switch is tilted, said conductor being connected to the other terminal, a member rotatably receiving said tube, means for mounting said member for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tube, a handle on said tube, and wind controlled means for swinging said pendulum.

4. A tilting switch comprising a tubular memher, a central terminal thereon, a pendulum suspended within said tubular member connected to said central terminal, a plurality of additional terminals mounted on said tubular member, a plurality of parallel, spaced conductors within said tubular member connected to said additional terminals, respectively, and adapted to be contacted by said pendulum when the tubular member is tilted, a member attached to said pendulum and projecting from said tubular member, and a vane on said last member.

MARIUS SORENSEN. 

